PM Sharif, army chief leave for Riyadh

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif have left Islamabad for Riyadh today on an official visit to hold important talks with Saudi leadership.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi are also accompanying the two dignitaries.

He is visiting the Kingdom on the invitation of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to witness the military exercise ‘North Thunder’.

A large number of other Heads of State and Government have also been invited to witness the ongoing military exercise and its closing ceremony.

Troops from 21 countries, including Pakistan, are participating in the exercise, in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.

The main goal of the exercise is to improve training in responding to the threat posed by terrorist groups.

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Pakistan enjoys cordial and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia, which are characterized by strong bonds of affinity, mutual respect and solidarity, and draw strength from shared historical, cultural and Islamic values. Both countries enjoy multi faceted cooperation, including in the fields of defense and counter-terrorism, said a statement issued here.

The “Thunder of the North” exercise involving ground, air, and naval forces sends a “clear message” that Riyadh and its allies “stand united in confronting all challenges and preserving peace and stability in the region, said SPA.

Saudi Arabia is currently leading a military campaign against Iran-backed rebels in its southern neighbour Yemen. Last December, it also formed a new 35-member coalition to fight “terrorism” in Islamic countries.